Quantum electric wires
Dr. Gauger and his research team at IPaQS study the electric current through a single molecule with an unusual spiro-conjugated geometry. This work shows how the current resulting from an applied bias voltage not only sensitively depends on destructive quantum interference across the spiro-link, but is also heavily affected by geometrical distortion, including of a self-driven nature. The ability to control the conductivity lies at the heart of conventional semiconductor transistors. By analogy, the dynamic charge-transfer response displayed by this molecular junction might make it an attractive component for designing functional molecular circuits.